opinions on all things in black/urban/hip-hop/[other euphemism for black] culture

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

The dozens gone horribly awry: Lookin Ass Nigga

I never knew why the oral art of talking about somebody or their mama was called the dozens. I still don't really know but now that I've had the pleasure of listening to Hotstylz/ Yung Joc's "Lookin Ass Nigga" or "Lookin Boy" (edited version), a song dedicated to that well known oral art of making your opponent feel like garbage, twelve new issues have now emerged:

1. How is it possible to attach any combination of adjectives and nouns with "lookin ass nigga" and suggest that a person looks like said combination? If making a non-sensical insult is the goal then by all means Hot Stylz, crack away because the possiblities are endless. But if you're looking for your victim to understand your ass...you might need to get less creative with your lexicon and word grouping so that the possiblity of a person actually looking like what you've described, is feasible. Let's examine a few lyrics from this piece to get a better understanding

2. "Dirty white sock on your toe lookin ass nigga"
Firstly, I think the main issue at hand is the sock being worn solely on the toe. But how would you be able to see that unless your opponent was either not wearing shoes or wearing open toed shoes, in which case the second issue would be wearing a sock on one toe in an open toed shoe.

3. "Midnight train Gladys Knight lookin ass nigga"
Okay, now are we suggesting that the opponent looks like the soul/R&B songstress that created that classic hit or are we saying that he/she is a personification of the song? If the first is true, then is it truly a crime to resemble such a influential Motown artist? If the second is true, refer to number one.

4. "Don Imus ol’ nappy headed ho lookin’ boy"
Does the opponent look like the infamous Imus (if so, that IS pretty unfortunate) or the entire Rutger's womens basketball team?

5. "Dig in your booty then smell it lookin’ boy/ Rub it with the KY jelly lookin’ boy"
It's impossible for someone physically look like they enjoy smelling their own booty residue so you had to have watched the opponent do said activity. As for the KY jelly, this insult leaves you open for some major attacks on your character; voyeurism is illegal.

6. "Getchya Riiiickkyy!! Morris Chestnut shot in ya back lookin’ boy"
I think we all remember that poignant scene from Singleton's "Boyz in the Hood" and if your opponent resembles this entire scene, how could you insult someone who would've made it into college and out the hood had not destructive societal conditions ended his life during its prime?
Or if you're just suggesting that he looks like Morris Chestnut circa "Boyz in the Hood", then damn, that opponent's fine as hell.

7."You in house L Cool J lookin’ boy"
What's wrong with that? Besides the fact that the show was a television screensaver.

8."Gangsta homo thug lookin’ boy"
Refer to the KY Jelly section.

9"Oh it’s the first of the month, Bone Thug lookin’ boy"
Now this used to be my song. But once again I need to know whether you're referring to somebody looking like they get foodstamps on the first or if they look like a member of the 230+ Bone Thugs N Harmony. Only to be outdone by the small island population that is the Wu-Tang Clan.

10."Lookin’ real ugly in the face lookin’ boy"
Quite clear and sensical but not as creative as I'd like.

11."This is the song that doesn’t end, lamb chop lookin’ boy"
So your opponent looks like a sock puppet guided by Shari Lewis' (RIP) skilled hand? You'll probably lose since Lamb chop had a smart mouth!

12. "I look like I eat tuna casserole all day lookin’ boy"
Now you just getting ridiculous and gross.

As you can see, "Lookin Ass Nigga", while a creative attempt at bringing the dozens to a wider audience (besides "Yo Momma", a show marketed to the middle aged women and toddlers), just makes no damn sense.